The Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel, also known as Saint Michael Cathedral and formerly known as Saint Ferdinand Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the town of Gamu, in the province of Isabela, Philippines. Before the cathedral was built, the former seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan was located in Saint Ferdinand Proto-Cathedral in Barangay Bagumbayan, Ilagan, Isabela.[1]
| St. Michael Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel | |
 Cathedral facade in 2015 | |
.svg)  St. Michael Cathedral Location in Luzon .svg) St. Michael Cathedral Location in the Philippines | |
| 17°05′16″N 121°51′16″E / 17.0877°N 121.8545°E | |
| Location | Gamu, Isabela |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Saint Ferdinand Cathedral |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1686, 2013 |
| Founder(s) | Pedro Jimenez |
| Dedication | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Past bishop(s) |
|
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, sand, stone, gravel, cement, steel, concrete |
| Administration | |
| Province | Tuguegarao |
| Metropolis | Tuguegarao |
| Archdiocese | Tuguegarao |
| Diocese | Ilagan (since 1970) |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Ricardo L. Baccay |
| Bishop(s) | David William V. Antonio |
Old Saint Ferdinand Cathedral
editHistory
editIlagan had its beginnings as an encomienda of Don Hernández de Paz circa 1617. The town was also founded as a mission of the Dominican priests called San Miguel de Bolo on April 21, 1619. After the revolt in 1621 by the inhabitants of Ilagan and the nearby towns of Naguilian and Baculud, nothing was written about the town’s history until it was re-founded by Pedro Jimenez in 1678. During that time, it was officially named as San Fernando de Ilagan. It was also formally accepted as a Dominican mission in March 1686.[2]
Architectural history
editRecords tell that the construction of the church of Ilagan started around 1696 to 1700. In 1777, Pedro de San Pedro started the construction of the belfry. Later on, the tower was completed by Joaquin Sancho in 1783, the date indicated in the clay inset found at the top of the tower. The church was recorded to have sustained heavy damages during a typhoon in 1866. It was torn down by the parish priest in the hopes of erecting a new structure. The current church structure is no longer the old stone structure erected in the Spanish-era.[2] Only the tower remains intact. On April 22, 2024, a fire started from the roof of the 300-year old church which destroyed most of its interior.[3][4]
New Gamu Cathedral
editThe current cathedral was built in 2000.[5] In 2003, the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan was transferred from the Saint Ferdinand Parish Church to a new Church in Barangay Upi, in the town of Gamu. In 2013, Pope Francis decreed that the cathedral be dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel although the diocese remains under the patronage of Saint Ferdinand of Castile.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Darang, Josephine (September 22, 2013). "Pope Francis transfers episcopal seat of Diocese of Ilagan to Gamu, Isabela". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Hornedo, Florentino H. (2002). On the Trail of Dominican Engineers, Artists & Saints in the Cagayan Valley & Batanes (First ed.). Manila, Philippines: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. p. 31. ISBN 9715061923.
- ^ Patinio, Ferdinand (April 22, 2024). "Fire engulfs cathedral in Isabela". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Iñigo, Liezle Basa (April 22, 2024). "Fire hits church in Isabela". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Fire guts Ilagan diocese's original cathedral". CBCP News. April 22, 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to Gamu Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons- Gamu Cathedral on Facebook
